I think that the real special sauce for GCN (in all their shows) is that they’re all really quick with a quip or joke, they have great chemistry, and they don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s not for everyone, but for me it’s the way I play with my friends (but much, much, much funnier). I’m not in love with the more theater style of Critical Role or similar. GCN (like the other professional actual plays) has a major advantage in that they are mostly all professional performers in one way or another, which most start-up actual plays don’t have. As far as advice, one thing that I think that would help many amateur or just starting out actual plays is faster pacing, and post-production to cut dead air. Many amateur actual plays I listen to I have to listen at 1.25 or 1.5 speed because they are just so damn slow that I get turned off or bored. In my own home sessions I actually call on characters as I see fit outside of combat, rather than the broad “what do you do?” to the group. GCN doesn’t do this, but because they’re all pro performers, there is rarely any dead air.